Page 14

“So, this is what you do all day? Sit in the diner?” she asked, playing with the sweetener packets.

“Pretty much. It’s either this or sit at home. Alone. So, I come in here and Connor feeds me,” Rebecca said, patting her belly.

Connor watched as Madison slowly got to meet everyone from town. The townspeople had been stopping in all morning to say hello. His mate turned to him, panic on her face.

“I’m going to lose my damn mind!” she said, waving her hands about.

He winced. She may be right. Arkadia was a small town.

It had one theater, which was usually months behind everyone else for movie releases, no real shopping to speak of, and only the diner and Mojo’s to choose from for food.

His city girl was going to start flipping her shit soon. He needed to think of something, fast.

“Damian and I help plan events for the town. It helps us to stay busy, you can help if you want,” Rian offered.

Madison shook her head.

“I don’t have a lick of creativity in my body. That all went to my sister Madelyne, she sucked Maddox and me dry of any artistic sense when we were in the womb.”

“You got all of the contrariness,” Claybourne said, smiling at his sister.

“You got all of the fastidiousness.” She stuck her tongue out at him.

“You look happy. I’m glad. I was kind of nervous when Connor carried you out of here caveman style, but it looks like everything worked out okay,” Claybourne said, taking a bite of his sandwich.

Felix snorted. “He was up and pacing practically that whole night. I had to damn near suck his balls up through his cock to get him to go to sleep,” Felix chimed in, popping a chip into his mouth.

Claybourne immediately began to choke on his sandwich. Madison and Rebecca giggled as Claybourne glared at his mate and tried to sip on his water.

“Baby, one of these days that mouth of yours will get you into trouble you won’t be able to get out of,” Claybourne warned.

Felix batted his eyes at his mate. “That type of trouble doesn’t exist. My mouth is exactly what will save me and get me out of whatever trouble I stir up,” Felix said, sticking his pickle in his mouth. He rotated it provocatively, winked at his mate, and then bit down.

Connor watched as Madison started turning different shades of red from laughing so hard. Her brother was turning red, too, but that was for different reasons. Suddenly he had an idea.

“Madison, weren’t you going to call someone to arrange for your things to be sent here?” he asked. He had a feeling that in order to keep his mate out of trouble, she would have to stay busy. She looked up at him and beamed.

“Yes. Thanks for the reminder. It’s late enough in the afternoon Giddey will be up.” She reached into her purse and pulled out her phone.

“Good morning, sunshine,” she said.

“I hate you. You left me,” a male voice replied. Connor’s ears perked up.

“Now, baby, don’t be like that, I had to make sure my brother was okay and guess what. I’ve met my mate and will be moving to Arkadia,” she said brightly.

Silence.

Silence.

Madison frowned and looked down at her phone.

“Giddey, you still there?” she asked.

“How could you do this to me? To us?” Giddey wailed through the phone.

“Now, honey, don’t be like that. You will do well without me. I know of at least three other women who have begged me to have you in their lives,” Madison said soothingly.

“I don’t want them! I want you. Please come home! I’m lonely,” Giddey sniffled.

“Oh, baby, don’t cry. You are perfection at what you do, I’ve never had better. Someone else will appreciate that,” she assured the man on the phone.

Connor felt his nostrils flare.

“You taught me everything I know, and if I can’t be with you I will just die, alone, in my apartment, alone , surrounded by pizza boxes and takeout containers. Alone ,” Giddey yelled dramatically.

“No you… Wait. Giddey, why are you surrounded by takeout containers? Have you left your apartment since I left?” she demanded.

There was a tiny sniffle on the phone.

“You haven’t, have you? Giddey, I left New York nearly a week ago.” She said sounding concerned.

“Miss you,” he mumbled.

Madison’s eyes narrowed. “You’re on your house phone aren’t you?” she asked.

There was a gasp. “How did you know?

“You were mugged again weren’t you! You set it up to have your cell calls forwarded to your house line.” She palmed her face with her free hand.

“Listen, Giddey baby, you can’t live like this. Did you file a police report?” she asked.

“Yes, Officer Craig even kept the laughter to a minimum. He said I was a walking New York record for the number of experienced muggings,” Giddey said.

“For fuck’s sake! He better have processed that report or I’m going to have his captain’s ass,” she grumbled.

“Can’t I come live with you? I know you, Madison. You will find something to sink your teeth into and you’ll need me,” Giddey asked in a small voice.

“Baby, you know I love you…” Madison started.

Connor growled and snapped the handle off his frying pan.

Madison looked up and her eyes widened. “One second, Giddey.” She hit a button on the phone. “Oh, Connor, he’s so lost without me. Can he move in with us?” she asked, her eyes filled with tears.

Connor felt his mouth drop. “You want to move your lover into our house?” he demanded.

She blinked. “What?” she asked, looking shocked.

“Giddey. Your lover. You want to move him into our house, after last night?” he roared.

“Oh Connor. No! Giddey is my personal assistant, he’s gay down to his DNA and not my lover.

He is the most amazing assistant, organized, efficient.

But, he’s totally inept when it comes to taking care of himself.

Can he please stay with us? I’m scared of what might happen if I’m not there to watch out for him.

He’s already been mugged again,” she said, biting her lower lip.

“Not your lover?” he asked again, feeling his anger washing away.

“Not even close. More like an adorable little brother. Like Maddox.” She pointed to Claybourne, who rolled his eyes.

“Give up, Connor. Once she puts you in the family category it’s a wrap. She’d move heaven and earth for her family,” Claybourne said.

“I know, it’s just one of the things I love about my mate,” he said innocently. He watched a blush creep up her neck, and she went back to her phone.

“Okay, Giddey, pack up your stuff and head to Arkadia. Book a flight to Raleigh and someone will pick you up.” Madison smiled happily up at Connor.

Silence.

Silence.

“Giddey?”

“You’re trying to kill me! People die in airplanes. If you don’t want me there just say, ‘Giddey, go slit your wrists.’ It would be more humane. I don’t want to go down in a fiery blaze!” Giddey screamed.

Connor looked around the diner, and everyone was staring at Madison as if she were giving a performance. Her conversation with her personal assistant had everyone’s undivided attention.

“Why can’t he just drive down?” Kaden asked.

Madison’s eyes widened.

“I could do that,” Giddey said, sounding excited.

“Like hell you can! You can’t even go from one subway stop to another without getting distracted. There’s no freaking way you’re getting in a car and driving over five-hundred miles. I’d never see you again!” Madison yelled into the phone.

“I don’t want to go to Arkadia. It’s in the middle of nowhere!” Giddey whined.

“Giddey.”

“There are bugs!! Don’t try to lie. I read about it in a magazine once, country places have bugs!” he continued.

“Giddey,” Madison said, louder this time.

“There is nothing there that will entice me to move to the boonies!” Giddey declared dramatically.

“There is an entire lion pride of hot, single, gay men looking for fresh meat,” Madison said with a sigh.

Silence.

“I’ll book my flight now and send you the details. Love you Mad-da-sin!” Giddey sang her name and ended the call.

“I can’t wait to meet him. He sounds fun.” Rian chuckled.

Madison set her phone down on the table and took a deep breath. She looked up at Connor. “He may take some getting used to.”

Kaden and Beau burst out laughing.

“You think?” Kaden asked.

“Because my mate is so amazing and understanding, he will get blow jobs on demand while Giddey stays with us,” Madison announced.

Connor looked over to his mate and leered. He wasn’t paying attention and accidentally grazed his arm on the top of the oven. He slammed the oven door shut, cussing. She winked at him.

“Lucky bastard,” Kaden grumbled.

Connor gave Kaden a shit-eating grin before heading to the freezer for something for his arm. He used a dishtowel and held a pack of peas to the burn.

“Swing by the clinic later for some ointment,” Claybourne offered.

“Thanks, Doc.” Connor winked at Madison and leaned against the counter as the frozen peas drew the heat from his arm.

“It’s been years since you’ve done that,” Ma said with laughter twinkling in her eyes.

“I have the best mate ever.” Connor laughed.

The diner door opened, and Duncan and Emmett walked in. Duncan was holding a large manila folder.

“Here, man, this was under your windshield wiper on your truck,” Duncan said, handing the envelope to Connor. He and Emmett sat down on their usual barstools.

“Thanks.” He put the pack of peas down and took the envelope.

“What happened to your arm?” Emmett asked.

“Nothing,” Connor said quickly. He opened the envelope and glanced at the first couple of pictures.

They were additional photographs from the different crime scenes.

Griffin must have dropped them off. Gritting his teeth, he closed the envelope and stuffed it in his jacket pocket where it hung on the coat rack.

“Connor?” Madison asked, worried.

“Updates from Griffin,” he said, and she nodded before turning to Rebecca.

“So, when are you due?” she asked.

“Around Christmas. I’m hoping he will come early, I’m really ready to start having sex again.” Rebecca sighed.

“Becca!” Aleks exclaimed, flushed.

“Just saying.” Rebecca shrugged.